Wonderful Sunday

"Some worry endlessly over missions that were missed, or marriages that did not turn out, or babies that did not arrive, or children that seem lost, or dreams unfulfilled, or because age limits what they can do. I do not think it pleases the Lord when we worry because we think we never do enough or that what we do is never good enough."
Boyd K. Packer, “The Least of These,” Ensign, Nov 2004, 86

This past Sunday, we had an amazing lesson in Relief Society! This quote was used and it touch my soul. It touch my soul because I have really begun to feel like I am never enough, my life isn't enough, I have nothing to show and I never do enough. This is soothing balm to my aching heart. Though, it doesn't take it totally away, I have found that I probably need to focus on this more!

I have to admit, it is true, it doesn't please God when we worry too much. And, it only hinders our progression and our happiness. Nor does it please God when we decide we are not enough or never do enough. The truth is, each of us is ENOUGH to GOD! There may be times when we can give more than at other times. And thankfully God knows when those times are . . . He knows when you are struggling and your "less given" is your best at that time and when you can do better.

This is not to say I won't worry, but I will try to worry less and give my best and feel content with that. Simply, the best is all God asks from us and if we give the best we have at that moment, He is happy and content. I guess at times, I am more caught up in what I should be and what I should be able to give that I beat myself down alot! And it isn't just my own self, but I allow others to do so, some intentional . . . others without knowing.

And there is of course that great desire of mine to be PERFECT to everyone, including God. I really need to work on realizing, I am not perfect, I will never be perfect, and those around me need to love me for my imperfect-self. Thankfully, my Savior is there to make up the difference. And so, I make a goal to try to control my need to be perfect and pleasing to everyone and to only worry really about being pleasing to One. And to realize, I will never be perfect!

And to those of my dear friends and family out there, maybe struggling with those same worries . . . release them, find happiness in knowing if your are GIVING YOUR BEST, it is ENOUGH! Your BEST IS NOT ALWAYS the SAME!! You ARE ENOUGH and you are BEAUTIFUL just the way you are!! Now, to practice that myself and to pass that on to my daughter!


Another FABULOUS QUOTE:
God's words to Oliver Granger remind us that we are more than our résumés, GPAs, salaries, and scholarships. What endears us to heaven is our sincere sacrifice; our sincere efforts to love God and our neighbor are sacred. The Almighty does not require success, but he does require sacrifice.

If we fail, having tried with all our might, the Lord takes the intent for the deed because, in his economy, sacrifice is more sacred than success.
By John S. Tanner, '74


I am going to ramble for a bit. This is so true! Our sacrifice is so much more important than our success! And the world has become so set on SUCCESS . . . is it because SUCCESS can be measure?? You can measure if your marriage is happy, you can measure how many children you have, you can measure the size of your house, you can measure your GPA, your salary, your car? However, SACRIFICE cannot be measure by those of us on earth . . . it is only measure by God.

I have one tangible experience with this . . . LOVE . . . sacrifice and love! On my mission, I had lots of companions that I went through hard times with . . . the companionship's weren't perfect, but we loved each other and sacrificed for one another! We sacrifice our own happiness at times to make it work. I have many dear friends from my mission, but my dear friends that I hold the closest and are like unto sister to me are the one's that didn't care about my perfection or imperfection, my success or failure . . . the loved me, cried with me, laughed with me, and struggled with me, and I with them.

Then, there was the one companionship that was more concerned about success in this life and numbers. I suffocated in that companionship . . . the first day, we had what was called as we tracted, "Get to know each other," and during this time, my companion proceeded to rattle off high school GPA, talents, awards won, scholarships awarded, College GPA, degree awarded, honor classification given, and a myriad of earthly achievements. When, the "get to know each other" session was done, I felt no closer to this companion that I did the rock on the street. I did not share my resume and walked rather shocked at the whole "get to know you situation! I know that is horrible to say, but I didn't. I should have probably reached out in love! This companion continued in finding ever earthly flaw she could find in me, instead of loving, crying, struggling, laughing through it, she stone walled and reported to others what she viewed as "problems." Needless to say, my priorities were not her priorities!!

To this day, one thing stands out in my mind. That one thing, NO ONE CARES HOW MUCH YOU KNOW, until they KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CARE!! I believe my mission President put it perfectly, we were two different people, she was worried about the tasks to be done and I was busy basking in and sharing the Saviors love, much like Mary and Martha.

In truth, I have lots of close friends, and they are those that loved unconditionally, cried, laughed, held, and worked with me. Never judging, never more worried about SUCCESS . . . only worried about sacrificing for our companionship! I hope I did just as much for them as they did for me! Thank you for loving me and seeing the IMPORTANCE and "ENOUGH" in me!

At times, I feel like I don't give "enough" or am "not enough" because I am at home with my daughter. I wish my sacrafice was seen as something that was of value and held up as ENOUGH! Instead, I feel like it is not enough and it would be better for her to be in day care and me working. Really, I wish the bigger VALUE was placed on her having a parent home that the money in the account

Oh! To teach my daughter to love unconditionally, laugh, cry, work, and never give up on someone because they are not perfect in the eyes you view them with!! Your sacrifice to love God and your neighbor, spouse, child, friend, and everyone around you is more important!